Edge shaping machines and work guides therefor



March 1965 A. J. ZULKOWlTZ ETAL 3,

EDGE SHAPING MACHINES AND WORK GUIDES THEREFOR Filed Aug. 29, 1962 FIG.4A.

FIG. 4B |3d INVENTORS Alberf J. Zulkowifz Philip Schufzman ATTORNEY 5United States Patent 3,172,417 EDGE SHAPING MAQHINES AND WDRK GUIDESTHEREFOR Albert J. Zulkowitz, 1290 Lafayette Ave., New York, N.Y., andPhilip Sclrutzrnan, New York, N.Y.; said Sclrutzman assignor to saidZuikowitz Filed Aug. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 22%,319 4 Claims. (Ci. 144-134)The present invention relates to an improved edge shaping apparatusadapted to chamfer, bevel, or otherwise profile the edge of a workpiece; and is more particularly concerned with an improved suchapparatus adapted to profile the edges of resilient tile structures,with the apparatus being so arranged that the edges of plural workpieces can be accurately profiled into any of a plurality of desiredconfigurations.

It is often desirable to profile the edges of square or stripstructures, or similar such components, used in the fabrication offloors, ceilings, moldings therefor, etc. Such profiles may be appliedto various types of workpiece materials, e.g., tiles of variouscomposition, wood, pressed fiber structures, etc. Moreover, suchprofiles may take various forms, e.g., in the case of tiles, a bevelingof the tile edges in a straight slope of approximately 45 to between theedge and face of the tile, cut on one, two, or more of the four edgesthereof; or other configurations such as curved inside and outsidecoves, step bevels, or even more complex shapes which may be desired forone or another reason.

Such profiling will be described hereinafter in reference to floortiles, wherein a beveling or chamfering of the tile edges, prior toinstallation, produces an ultimate floor surface having a far moreinteresting and ornamental effect than is possible with tiles havingunprofiled edges.

At the same time, such profiling of floor tiles, comprising a preferredembodiment of the present invention, lessens the number of customercomplaints and call-backs which may otherwise occur in a flat tileinstallation.

Floor tiles at the present time are provided in various thicknesses,with the most common of these thicknesses being either 0.080 inch or0.125 inch (or one-eighth inch tile). A highly decorative floor having acustomized three-dimensional effect may be achieved by using alternateblocks or strips of these two different thicknesses. In such cases, toenhance the decorative effect, and to minimize the possibility oftripping or the like, it is highly desirable for the edges of thethicker tiles to be beveled down to the height of the interveningthinner tiles. (Since the industry often refers to a chamfer as a bevel,the term bevel as used hereinafter, and in the appended claims, is notlimited to true bevels in a technical sense, but is intended to covervarious different edge profiles, including chamfers.) Such edge bevelingof floor tiles moreover tends to maintain the decorativeness of thefloor appearance after elapse of a period of time. Thus, as is wellknown, an installed tile floor tends to work, with the joint linebetween adjacent tiles tending to open up after a period of timeresulting in a floor appearance which many persons find highlyobjectionable. If the various tiles, either of the same or differentthicknesses, are beveled or otherwise edge profiled before installation,however, the joint line itself is emphasized and becomes a feature ofthe overall design. Subsequent working of the floor and any jointopenings which may occur, are therefore considerably less obvious whenedge beveled tiles are utilized; and this in turn reduces the number ofcomplaints to which an installing contractor may be subjected, atconsiderable profit to the contractor.

Certain of the foregoing considerations have in themselves beenrecognized heretofore by those dealing with tile floor or ceilinginstallations. In some cases, the pro- 3,172,417 Patented Mar. 9, 1965filing of the tile edges has been done by hand. The resultinginstallation has accordingly been extremely expensive and, when theworker is something less than an exemplary artisan, sometimes irregularor uneven, and therefore unsightly. Automatic beveling machinery hasbeen suggested to some extent; but in most cases, the machineryavailable for purposes of profiling the edge of a tile has been so largeand unwieldy, and so expensive and complex to operate and maintain, thatindividual contractors have found them uneconomical and imprac tical,especially for small jobs and for on-site profiling operations. Moresimplified apparatuses have also been suggested; but these have beensubject to still other disadvantages, e.g., they have been so arrangedthat tiles tend to be scratched during the profiling process withconsiderable resulting waste. In addition, these more simplified machinestructures have not lent themselves to ready changes in tile profilesand have not been so arranged that a particular profile can be readilyrepeated after a change has been made to some other profile on otherintervening workpieces. As a result, notwithstanding the recognizedadvantages of edge profiling in tile installations, installations ofthis general type have, due to the lack of appropriate edge profilers,been extremely expensive and less pleasing in appearance than desired.

The present invention, recognizing the foregoing situation, isaccordingly concerned with an apparatus adapted to profile the edges oftiles, with said apparatus being comparatively inexpensive to purchase,operate and maintain, whereby it becomes feasible for use directly at ajobsite, and by even relatively small contractors. In this respect, theapparatus takes the form of a relatively simple table structure having avertical spindle router mounted thereon, with the router preferablybeing such that any of various different cutters can be installedthereon to achieve any of various different desired edge profiles. Therouter and cutter construction is, moreover, particularly characterizedby the fact that the cutter is maintained at a predetermined and fixedheight; and changes in the dimensions of any particular profile, or theprofiling of different tile thicknesses, are achieved without alteringthe height of the cutter. This in itself represents a marked departurefrom shapers suggested heretofore; for in prior shapers it has beenconventional to achieve changes in profiling dimensions by altering theheight of the cutter with respect to the work table. This in turn hasmade it practically impossible for a particular edge profile dimension,effected on one tile, to be reproduced with exactness on other tiles ifthe cutter has had to be changed in height between cuts.

To provide fo changes in edge shape dimensions, the apparatus of thepresent invention employs a simple but highly accurate novel Work guidetaking the form of an elongated fence extending across the work table inthe region of the cutter, with said fence being pivotally attached tothe table at or adjacent to one of its ends, at a position remote fromthe cutter. Changes in edge pnofile dimensions are achieved by movingthe fence or work guide closer to or farther away from the fixed heightcutter, with the dimensions of the cut thereby being made deeper as thefence is moved farther away from said cutter, but Without altering theheight of the cutter. In addition, the work table has thereon, orassociated therewith, a plurality of indicia or guide lines disposedadjacent the free end of the work guide o fence, with the positioning ofthese indicia or guide lines being directly related to the dimensions ofany particular desired cut. The work guide or fence, when moved to anyparticular guide line on the table, can then be clamped in place; and atile can then have its edge shaped into the particular profile anddimension determined by the type of cutter employed and the clampedposition of the '1 Q. fence. To change dimensions, the work guide orfence can be unclamped and shifted to another guide line indicative ofsome second desired cut, whereafter the profiling procedure may beeffected on another tile or work piece. If the first cut is desired onstill another piece, the fence can thereafter be returned to its firstposition; and the fixed position indicia or guide line on the tableassures that such subsequent cuts on the work pieces will be of the sameexact dimensions as were earlier achieved.

The overall structure is further associated with an im proved hold-downarrangement, particularly adapted for.

positioning resilient tiles, and preventing their buckling or distortionduring a profiling operation. Said holddown further cooperates with thework guide or fence, as will be described, to provide an enclosure forthe cutter thereby minimizing the possibility of injury to the operatorwithout the need of separate guard structures.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide animproved edge shaper or tpr-ofiler particularly adapted for the cuttingof resilient tile work pieces.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of edgeshaper r profiler structures, associated with an improved work guide orfence structure, so arranged that the overall apparatus is far lessexpensive to manufacture, operate and maintain than has been possibleheretofore, thereby making the structure feasible and economical for usein even relatively small scale profiling operations.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of anedge shaper characterized by a fixed height cutter associated with amovable fence adapted to be pivoted toward and away from the cutterto'alter the dimensions of cuts.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provisionof an improved shaper comprising a pivotally mounted fence adapted to beclamped at any of a plurality of positions relative to a cutterstructure, and cooperating with fixed position indicia or guide lines,whereby any desired cut may be achieved with great accuracy and repeatedwith great exactness.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provisionof a work guide for use in edge shaping apparatuses so arranged that theposition of the guide may be clamped at a region closely adjacent thecutter, thereby to maintain a desired position of the work guidenotwithstanding pressures which may be exerted thereon during a cuttingoperation.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of animproved work guide associated with a novel adjustable hold-downarranged to extend over a work piece for a considerable distance, and tomaintain its position relative to the work piece throughout thisdistance of extension, thereby to inhibit buckling of the work piece atthe point of cutting.

Anothe object of the present invention resides in the provision of animproved, but simple and inexpensive,

edge shaping apparatus constructed of materials adapted to resistabrasion by work pieces thereon and adapted simultaneously to avoidscratching or marring said work pieces during a cutting operation.

The foregoing objects, advantages, construction and operation of thepresent invention will become more readily apparent from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an overall edge shaping apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top perspective view illustrating the table, work guide,hold-down, and guide lines characterizing the present invention, asviewed from the rear of the work guide or fence;

FIGURE 3 is a side view in partial section of the present inventiontaken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURES 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate certain typical cuts which may be madeby the apparatus of FIGURES 1 through 3. I

Referring now to the several figures, like numerals of which refer tolikeparts throughout, it will be seen that the apparatus of the presentinvention, in its preferred form, comprises a work table or supportingsurface 10 mounted in a position above the floor on legs 11 which may,when portability is desired, be adapted for folding in conjuction \w'thlocking hinges 12. As will be appreciated from the discussion to follow,work pieces such as a tile 13 are caused to be moved, face down, acrosstable 1% during edge profiling or shaping thereof; and in order tominimize scratching of the tile faces or work pieces during suchoperation, the table 16 preferably comprises a material such as wood,pressed wood, Masonite, or tempered hard board. This latte material hasbeen found to be especially desirable since it is sufiiciently firm, butnevertheless sufficiently soft in relation to the hardnesses ofcommercially available tiles to avoid scratching of tiles of all types.i

A cutting apparatus is mounted on the underside of table It and in apreferred form of the invention, said apparatus map comprise anycommercially available router 14 attached to the. bottom of the table,e.g., by means of bolts 15, it being understood that appropriatevibration absorbing pads or the like may be interposed at the point ofattachment. The router 14 is provided with a vertical spindle 16 havinga cutter 17 mounted at its upper extremity, with said cutter extendingupwardly through an aperture 18 in table It so that-the tip of its bitextends above the upper face of table It) (see, in this respect, FIGURE3). It is customary for the height of the cutter 17 to be adjustable incommercially available routers; and adjustments of the cutter heighthave in fact conventionally been effected to change the dimensions incuts in structures suggested heretofore. The adjustability feature ofthe cutter 17 is utilized in the present invention, however, only at thetime that the equipment is first set up; and once the cutter height hasbeen adjusted to a desired elevation-above table 10, it is thereafterlocked in place and remains unchanged during all subsequent operations.

For purposes of initially adjusting the cutter height, a height. gauge19; (see FIGURE 2) may be provided, taking the form of a block asillustrated having a central elongated notch 20 formed therein.- Theheight of notch 20 is preselected to correspond to the desired height ofcutter 17 above table 10; and initial height adjustment of cutter 17 mayaccordingly be readily achieved by placing notch 20 of gauge 19 overaperture 18, with the lower surface of gauge 19 resting entirely ontable 10; and by then elevating cutter 17 until it just touches theuppermost under surface of notch 20.

Cuts of particular dimensions are achieved along the edges of a tilesuch as 13 by sliding such a tile, face down, in a linear directionpastrotating cutter 17. The guiding of the tile during such a cuttingoperation is achieved by so sliding the tile along an'improved fencetaking the form of an elongated guide bar 21 pivotally attached to table10 adjacent one of its ends by any appropriate structure, e.g., a fixedstud and wing nut 22. By reason of this pivotal mounting of bar 21, at apoint remote from the position of cutter 17, the said bar, Work guide,or fence 21 can be moved pivotally, e.g., as illustratecl by arrow 23.When the forwardmost edge 24 of fence 21 is disposed forwardly of cutter17, any tile 13 which is caused to slide along edge 24 Will, of course,not. be cut by cutter 17. If fence 21 is pivoted in a slightlyrearwarddirection so as to just expose. cutter 17, a relatively shallow cut Willbe achievedalong the edge of any tile guided inthis position of thefence; and if the fence is pivoted even farther in the direction ofarrow 23 so that the forwardrnost edge 24 of fence 21, lies even fartherto the rear of cutter 17, edge cuts of even greater depth will beachieved.

It will be appreciated of course that-when fence 21 is pivoted to anyparticular position relative to cutter 17, and is then clamped in placeat that particular position, the edge of a tile guided by said fencewill be cut in a predetermined configuration characteristic of thatfence position, and of the cutter employed. If the fence is moved awayfrom or closer to a given cutter 17 of any particular type, and thenclamped into its new position, the dimensions of the cut will change.Accordingly, the edge shape dimensions becomes a function of the fencepivotal position alone, rather than of the cutter height; and changes inedge shape dimensions can be readily achieved by the simple expedient ofpivoting the fence from one clamped position to a new and differentclamped position. By the same token, since the edge dimensions are theresult of fence position, any particular edge dimension can be effectedwith great exactness on plural tiles during widely spaced cuttingoperations merely by assuring that the fence position is the same duringthese different cutting operations.

In order to adjust the fence to a position characteristic of aparticularly desired cut, and in order to further assure that this samedimension of cut will be achieved on different tiles even thoughintervening tiles may have been cut to some other dimension, the tableis preferably associated with a plurality of indicia or guide lines suchas those designated 25 and 26. The positions of guide lines 26 and 25are, of course, fixed; and they are so arranged that the front edge 24of fence 21 may be lined up with guide line 25 for one cut, and so thatthe rear edge 27 of fence 21 may be lined up with guide line 26 for adifferent cut. The rear edge 27 of fence 21 is provided with an inwardlyextending slot 28 adapted to overlie a fixed stud 29 extending upwardlyfrom table 10, whereby any particular pivotal position of fence 21 maybe effected, with the fence thereafter being clamped in place by a wingnut 30 screwed forceably down onto the upper surface of fence 21.

It will be appreciated, of course, that the particular positions ofguide lines 25 and 26 will depend upon the actual cutting operationbeing effected. The arrangement shown in the drawings illustrates asystem employed for cutting the edges of tiles having a thickness ofeither 0.125 (oneeighth inch tile) or 0.080 inch; with the guide lines25 and 26 being located so as to permit both of these tile thicknessesto be worked upon. When the front edge 24 of fence 21 is lined up withguide line 25 (marked .080), a one-eighth inch tile such as 13, movedacross table 10 face downward, will have its edge chamfered (or, to usethe industry nomenclature, beveled) in the manner illustrated inconnection with tile 1% (FIGURE 43) so as to leave an edge height of.080 inch. The chamfered edge tile 13b may accordingly be installed indirectly abutting relation with further tiles 13c of 0.080 inch inthickness. Moreover, plural tiles having like one-eighth inch thicknesscan have their edges beveled with the fence at its .080 position,whereafter these edge profiled tiles of like thickness can be installedin abutting relation to one another as shown at 13b and, in dottedrepresentation at 13d.

With fence 21 having its forward edge 24 lined up on guide line 25,tiles having a thickness of .080 inch can also be edge shaped; and thesethinner tiles will also have a chamfer formed on their edges, asillustrated at 13e in FIGURE 4C.

If a deeper cut is desired on one-eighth inch tile, the wing nut 30 canbe loosened and the fence 21 pivoted in a rearward direction until itsrear edge 27 lines up with guide line 26 (marked feather), whereafterfence 21 can be reclamped in this new position. Since the forward edge24 of fence 21 is now positioned farther to the rear of fixed heightcutter 17, a one-eighth inch tile guided along the forward edge 24 willhave a deeper cut formed therein; with this cut being of the typeillustrated at 13a in FIGURE 4A. As a practical matter, the edge out inthis case is still not a true bevel since a small edge height ofapproximately 0.005 to .015 inch is permitted to remain, whereby the cutis aptly termed a feather cut. In the tile industry, however, cuts ofthis type are still often designated a bevel. Plural tiles having such afeather or bevel cut may also be placed in abutting relation to oneanother as illustrated in FIGURE 4A, thereby to achieve a tile arrayhaving pronounced inclined joint lines; and such an array is highlydecorative and achieves the other advantages which have been describedpreviously.

It will be appreciated, of course, that either shallower or deeper cutscan be achieved from those actually de scribed above. Even when workingwith one-eighth inch tile, it may sometimes be desirable to have a cutsomewhat deeper than that achieved by the guide line 25, but not as deepas that achieved by guide line 26; and auxiliary guide lines, such as31, may accordingly be provided at determined positions between guidelines 25 and 26 so as to achieve a cut of desired depth. Such auxiliaryguide lines, e.g., 31 (which may also be located outside of lines 25 and26 for still other workpiece thicknesses) are used in the manner alreadydescribed, i.e., they are used to line up either a forward or rearwardedge of fence 21, adjacent the free end of said fence, thereby to setthe front edge of the fence at a particular position characteristic of aparticular desired cut.

ince the tiles 13 are caused to move along the front edge 24 of fence 21past cutter 17 during a shaping operation, it is desirable that thematerial of fence 21 be selected with some care to resist abrasion ofthe fence, and also to assure that the tiles are not scratched by thefence. Materials such as metal, while resisting abrasion, sometimesscratch tiles; and other materials which resist scratching, e.g., softwoods and plastic materials such as those marketed under the trade nameFormica are sometimes abraded by the tile, thereby detracting from theexactness of the tile cuts. While such materials can of course beemployed in the fence if their attendant difficulties can be tolerated,it has been found that tile scratching and fence abrasion can both beresisted if the fence 21 is fabricated of a close-grained hardwood, suchas maple; and the use of such materials in fence 21 accordingly comprisea preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In view of the nature of the material being cut, i.e., resilient tilecompositions, it is important that the work piece or tile be heldrigidly in place relative to the cutter 17 during a cutting operation toassure that the cut will be smooth and even. Resilient tiles areinherently flexible in character; and it has been found in practice thathold-down structures engaging the tile at only a point or at spacedpoints, e.g., leaf springs or the like, do not provide sufiicientrestraining force over a sufficient distance to prevent buckling of thetile. T o avoid this difficulty, the present invention contemplates animproved holddown structure comprising an elongated block 32 supportedadjacent the forward edge 24 of fence 21 in overlying relation to saidforward edge 24. Block 32 is preferably also formed of a close-grainedhardwood material to resist abrasion from the tile and to minimizescratching of the tile during a cutting operation; and the dimensions ofthe block are preferably so chosen that they extend for an appreciabledistance to both sides of the cutter 17, whereby substantially all theedge portions of a tile 13 being out are vertically restrained duringthe cutting operation. Hold-down block 32 is adapted to be shiftedvertically in position by means of a mounting and clamping structurecomprising an angle iron bracket 33 bolted as at 34 to the top of fence21 and having a vertically extending leg 35 provided with a pair ofthreaded studs extending horizontally through elongated slots 36 and 37provided in the upper edge of block 32. Wing nuts 38 placed on thehorizontally extending studs can then be fastened down to hold block 32in any desired vertical position above table 10; and this verticalposition may be altered, with alterations in the thicknesses of tile 713, by the simple expedient of loosening wing nuts 33, sliding block 32up or down in the directions of arrow 3% and thereafter retighteningwing nut 38.

As a practical matter, during initial set up, a typical tile 13 to becut is placed under hold-down block 32 in abutting relation to theforward edge 24 of fence 21 whereafter a spacer such as a thin metalplate 40 (see FIGURE 2) may be placed on top of tile 13 and under block32. The block 32 may then be clamped into position by wing nuts 38, andthe spacer 40 thereafter removed so that clearance is provided betweentile 13 and block 32 to permit ready movement of tile 13 along fence 21and under block 32, but with this clearance being sufficiently small toinhibit buckling and distortion of the tile during the cuttingoperation.

The underside of fence 21 is provided with a chip clearance groove orslot 41 extending between the front and rear edges 24 and 27 of fence21; and in a preferred embodiment of the invention, this chip clearancegroove or slot is tapered as illustrated so as to define a relativelysmall opening adjacent the forward edge 24 of fence 21, flaringoutwardly to a larger opening at the rearward edge of said fence 21.This tapered configuration tends to inhibit clogging of the slot duringextended operation.

Finally, as best illustrated in FIGURE 3, it will be noted that, duringa cutting operation, the cutter 1'7 is normally disposed within chipclearance groove or slot 41 adjacent the forward end thereof; and theentire cutter is effectively covered by fence 21 in conjunction withholddown block 32 overlying the forward edge of said fence 21. Undernormal conditions access to the cutter when the fence is in the positionshown in FIGURE 3, can only be had through the region of hold-down 32;and the height of this particular region is normally in the order ofone-eighth inch, thereby rendering it substantially impossible for theoperator to come into engagement with the cutter, even accidentally.Accordingly, the arrangement of fence and hold-down block described actsnot only to provide very accurate edge shaping, but simultaneously actsas a guard structure preventing injury to an operator.

It will be appreciated, of course, that, notwithstanding the efficiencyof the structure, it is constructed of relatively inexpensive materialsand in relatively simple fashion; and accordingly, the overall apparatusmay be manufactured and utilized with far less expense than has beencharacteristic of more complex structures suggested heretofore. By usinga pre-set height cutter, fine adjustments which have typified variableheight cuttters used heretofore are avoided; and the use of a pivotallymounted guide bar or fence 21 in association with fixed indicia insuresthat cuts of exact dimensions can be achieved and predictably repeated.This exactness of cut is further assured by the fact that the clampingstructure 29-30 associated with fence'21 is disposed closely adjacentcutter 17, whereby the position of fence 21. is very accuratelymaintained in the region 17; and the elongated hold-down surfaceprovided by block 32 as well as the particular materials which arechosen for hold-down block 32 and fence 21 assure that this accuracy ismaintained over long periods of time.

While we have thus described a preferred embodiment of our invention,many variations will be suggested to those skilled in the art. It musttherefore be emphasized that the foregoing description is meant to beillustrative only and is not limitative of our invention; and any suchmodifications or variations as are in accord with the principles of thepresent invention are meant to fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described our invention, We claim:

1. A machine for shaping the edges of resilient tiles, comprising atable having a stationary generally horizontal Work supporting surface,said surface having an aperture therein, motor means mounted on thelower surface of said table adjacent said aperture, said motor meansincluding a generally vertical power driven spindle, a cutter mounted onsaid spindle and protruding through said aperture a predetermined heightabove said stationary supporting surface, said cutter including meansfor effecting a bevel of predetermined fixed angle on the edges ofresilient tiles, a work guide comprising an elongated unitary fenceextending continuously in a generally horizontal direction across saidsupporting surface adjacent and past said aperture and cutter, at leastone end of said elongated fence being remote from said cutter, means forpivotally attaching said remotely located one end of said horizontallyextending fence to a fixed position on said generally horizontalsupporting surface whereby said elongated fence may be pivoted in afixed horizontal plane about its said remotely located one end therebyto alter the position of an elongated forward edge of said fencerelative to said cutter in said fixed horizontal plane to vary the depthof cut effected by said cutter at said fixed angle in theedges ofresilient tiles Without altering the vertical height of said cutter, anelongated block attached to said fence adjacent its said elongatedforward edge at a position above said aperture and cutter, first meansfor rigidly clamping said block at any of a plurality of differentvertically fixed positions relative to said supportin" surface, saidblock overlying said forward edge of said fence and having a lower edgepositioned at a fixed position above said supporting surface a clearancedistance greater than the thickness of said resilient tiles thereby toact as a rigid holddown for tiles inserted under the lower edge of saidblock into abutting engagement with said elongated forward edge of saidfence, said block and fence overlying and substantially enclosing saidcutter to provide a guard structure for said cutter, means defining aplurality of indicia located at fixed positions relative to saidstationary supporting surface adjacent the other end of said pivotallymounted fence for predefininga plurality of fence positions in saidfixed horizontal plane corresponding respectively to a plurality ofdesired different tile edge depths of cut, and second means for fixedlyclamping said pivotally mounted fence to said supporting surface at anyone of said predefined plurality of fence positions.

2. A machine for beveling the edge of resilient tiles comprising incombination, a table including a stationary substantially. horizontalwork supporting surface, a vertical power-driven spindle carried by saidtable and including a cutter located at a predetermined position abovesaid horizontal surface, a work guide comprising an elongated straightbar extending in a fixed horizontal plane across said surface, one endof said bar being located at a position remote from said cutter'on oneside of said cutter, said bar extending continuously from its said oneend past said cutter, the other end of said bar being located at aposition remote from said cutter on the other side of said cutter, meansfor pivotally attaching said one end of said bar to a fixed point onsaid table whereby said bar may be pivotally moved in a fixed horizontalplane about its said one end to vary the horizontal distance between aforward edge of said bar and said cutter, work hold-down means carriedby said bar at a position overlying said forward'edge of said bar,releasable clamping means for rigidly clamping the lowermost surface ofsaid hold-down means at a plurality of different fixed hold-downpositions above said horizontal surface, each of said fixed hold-downpositions being a clearance distance greater than the thickness of tilesto be beveled, said bar and hold-down means covering and substantiallyenclosing said cutter during edge beveling operations, means forclamping said bar at a plurality of different pivotal positions in saidfixed horizontal plane about the said remote one end of said bar, andindicia carried by said stationary surface adjacent the said remoteother end of said elongated bar for predefining different pivotalpositions of said bar in said fixed horizontal plane correspondingrespectively to different depths of cut to be effected in said tileedges.

3. An edge beveling machine comprising a workpiece support surfacepositioned in a fixed substantially hori zontal plane, said machineincluding a vertical spindle cutter mounted for rotation adjacent saidsupport surface, said cutter extending a preselected fixed verticaldistance above said horizontal support surface and arranged to cut abevel of predetermined angle in the edges of workpieces movedhorizontally along said surface to ward and past said cutter, a workguide overlying said cutter, said guide comprising an elongated straightfence ha"- ing a recess in a lower surface thereof in which recess saidcutter is located thereby to enclose said cutter, said elongated fenceextending in a fixed horizontal plane continuously across said supportsurface with the opposite ends of said fence being disposed in spacedrelation to one another on opposite sides of said cutter respectively,means adjacent one end of said elongated fence for pivotally attachingsaid one end of said fence to said support surface at a fixed pointremote from and to one side of said cutter whereby said fence may bepivotally moved about its said one end in a fixed horizontal plane tovary the horizontal distance between said cutter and a forward elongatededge of said fence, means located adjacent said fence at a positionspaced from said cutter for fixedly clamping said forward edge of saidfence relative to said support surface at a selected position in saidfixed horizontal plane, said clamping means being located closer to saidcutter than said fixed point of pivotal attachment and being positionedadjacent that side of said cutter at which workpieces being edge beveledapproach said cutter during their movement toward and past said cutterthereby to increase the stability of said fence in the region at whichsaid cutter first engages said workpieces, and means adjacent the otherend of said fence for defining a plurality of predetermined differentpivotal positions for said fence in said fixed horizontal planecorresponding respectively to predetermined different depths of cut tobe made at said predetermined angle in said workpieces.

4. In an edge shaping machine, a stationary support surface positionedin a substantially horizontal plane and having a vertical spindle cuttermounted thereon with said cutter being positioned a fixed verticaldistance above said support surface, an elongated continuous hardwoodfence for guiding workpieces along said support surface during edgeshaping operations, said fence having a slot in its undersurfaceextending partially through said fence in vertical directions andadapted to overlie and at least partially enclose said cutter, saidhardwood fence extending in a fixed substantially horizontal planeacross said support surface and having the opposing ends of said fenceeach remotely positioned from said cutter on opposite sides of saidcutter respectively, means for pivotally attaching one of the remoteends of said fence at a fixed point adjacent said support surface andremote from said cutter whereby said fence may be pivotally moved aboutits said one remote end to variably position said cutter within saidslot relative to a forward elongated edge of said fence, clamping meansextending between said support surface and an intermediate portion ofsaid fence at a position more closely adjacent said cutter than saidpoint of pivotal attachment and located on the side of said cutteropposite to said point of pivotal attachment for fixedly clamping saidfence at any selected pivotal position thereby to control the depth ofcut effected in a workpiece during edge shaping thereof, and fixedposition guide means carried by said support surface adjacent the otherremote end of said fence and cooperating with at least one elongatededge of said fence for defining different pivotal positions of saidfence in said fixed substantially horizontal plane correspondingrespectively to different possible depths of cut which can be effectedduring edge shaping operations.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 935 9/38 Rogers144-253 32,041 4/61 Bain et a1. 144-253 401,555 4/89 Green 144--134451,233 4/91 Holt 144-253 822,636 6/06 Steer. 1,183,566 5/16 Jessrang.1,402,667 1/22 Shaw 144-253 2,032,976 3/36 Carter 143169 2,085,235 6/37Tautz 143168 2,314,660 3/43 Peterman. 2,315,458 3/43 Sellmeyer 1431692,606,580 8/52 Johnson 143-469 2,696,854 12/54 Woodruff 144253 WILLIAMW. DYER, 111., Primary Examiner.

LEON PEAR, Examiner.

1. A MACHINE FOR SHAPING THE EDGES OF RESILIENT TILES, COMPRISING ATABLE HAVING A STATIONARY GENERALLY HORIZONTAL WORK SUPPORTING SURFACE,SAID SURFACE HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN, MOTOR MEANS MOUNTED ON THELOWER SURFACE OF SAID TABLE ADJACENT SAID APERTURE, SAID MOTOR MEANSINCLUDING A GENERALLY VERTICAL POWER DRIVEN SPINDLE, A CUTTER MOUNTED ONSAID SPINDLE AND PROTRUDING THROUGH SAID APERTURE A PREDETERMINED HEIGHTABOVE SAID STATIONARY SUPPORTING SURFACE, SAID CUTTER INCLUDING MEANSFOR EFFECTING A BEVEL OF PREDETERMINED FIXED ANGLE ON THE EDGES OFRESILIENT TILES, A WORK GUIDE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED UNITARY FENCEEXTENDING CONTINUOUSLY IN A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL DIRECTION ACROSS SAIDSUPPORTING SURFACE ADJACENT AND PAST SAID APERTURE AND CUTTER, AT LEASTONE END OF SAID ELONGATED FENCE BEING REMOTE FROM SAID CUTTER, MEANS FORPIVOTALLY ATTACHING SAID REMOTELY LOCATED ONE END OF SAID HORIZONTALLYEXTENDING FENCE TO A FIXED POSITION ON SAID GENERALLY HORIZONTALSUPPORTING SURFACE WHEREBY SAID ELONGATED FENCE MAY BE PIVOTED IN AFIXED HORIZONTAL PLANE ABOUT ITS SAID REMOTELY LOCATED ONE END THEREBYTO ALTER THE POSITION OF AN ELONGATED FORWARD EDGE OF SAID FENCERELATIVE TO SAID CUTTER IN SAID FIXED HORIZONTAL PLANE TO VARY THE DEPTHOF CUT EFFECTED BY SAID CUTTER AT SAID FIXED ANGLE IN THE EDGES OFRESILIENT TILES WITHOUT ALTERING THE VERTICAL HEIGHT OF SAID CUTTER, ANELONGATED BLOCK ATTACHED TO SAID FENCE ADJACENT ITS SAID ELONGATEDFORWARD EDGE AT A POSITION ABOVE SAID APERTURE AND CUTTER, FIRST MEANSFOR RIGIDLY CLAMPING SAID BLOCK AT ANY OF A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENTVERTICALLY FIXED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE, SAIDBLOCK OVERLYING SAID FORWARD EDGE OF SAID FENCE AND HAVING A LOWER EDGEPOSITIONED AT A FIXED POSITION ABOVE SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE A CLEARANCEDISTANCE GREATER THAN THE THICKNESS OF SAID RESILIENT TILES THEREBY TOACT AS A RIGID HOLDDOWN FOR TILES INSERTED UNDER THE LOWER EDGE OF SAIDBLOCK INTO ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ELONGATED FORWARD EDGE OF SAIDFENCE, SAID BLOCK AND FENCE OVERLYING AND SUBSTANTIALLY ENCLOSING SAIDCUTTER TO PROVIDE A GUARD STRUCTURE FOR SAID CUTTER, MEANS DEFINING APLURALITY OF INDICIA LOCATED AT FIXED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAIDSTATIONARY SUPPORTING SURFACE ADJACENT THE OTHER END OF SAID PIVOTALLYMOUNTED FENCE FOR PREDEFINING A PLURALITY OF FENCE POSITIONS IN SAIDFIXED HORIZONTAL PLANE CORRESPONDING RESPECTIVELY TO A PLURALITY OFDESIRED DIFFERENT TILE EDGE DEPTHS OF CUT, AND SECOND MEANS FOR FIXEDLYCLAMPING SAID PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FENCE TO SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE AT ANYONE OF SAID PREDEFINED PLURALITY OF FENCE POSITIONS.